Harrogate Town Council has called on North Yorkshire Council to review how community funding linked to new developments is managed and communicated.
At a meeting on Tuesday (3rd June), councillors agreed a motion asking North Yorkshire Council to consider changes to the way Section 106 funding is allocated as part of its ongoing Local Plan review.
Section 106 contributions are payments made by developers as part of planning agreements and can be used to support community projects and infrastructure in the local area.
The motion states that local community groups are not always made aware when funding is available and calls for improvements to the application process.
Harrogate Town Council is asking North Yorkshire Council to provide clearer criteria for how applications are assessed, make decision-making more transparent and offer feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
The authority is also seeking clearer guidance for community organisations applying for funding, alongside executive summaries outlining what money is available and where.
Cllr Mark Warr, vice-chair of Harrogate Town Council’s Finance and General Purposes Committee, said:
“Too often, these contributions to our area are reclaimed by developers simply because the Conservative-run North Yorkshire Council has such a cumbersome application process for the funding.
"We are calling on North Yorkshire to make sure that, whenever a new development is built, the community gets the investment it deserves.”
The motion was approved by Harrogate Town Council and will form part of its response to North Yorkshire Council’s review of the Local Plan.
Section 106 agreements are commonly used by local authorities to secure funding from developers for projects including transport improvements, public open spaces, community facilities and education provision.
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